A Child’s First Step To Singing For Life

Why should a child be condemned as ‘tone deaf’ before they’ve fully developed?

Children learn to walk, talk, add, read etc. at different stages. Why wouldn’t it be the same with their musical ear and pitching?

It’s true that some children have developed their musical ear from a very young age and are labelled as a ‘natural’. The others will get it, you just have to keep going. If you’re delayed in walking as a baby we don’t put you in a wheelchair and say you’ll never get it.

I have never turned any child away from my youth choirs. Children are still developing musically. I hear so many stories about children being turned away, thrown out or told to mime in their school choirs.

Children have joined my youth choir who would have been termed ‘tone deaf’. Within a year they can sing in tune. As long as they are in a nurturing environment they will grow in confidence and consequently sing more because they are enjoying it. There is often a specific area of their range where they can go off key and with support and training they can correct this. There comes a point where they can hear when they go off course. This is the key to singing in tune.

In our concerts, there will be children in the choir who still aren’t pitching the right notes all the time. It’s ongoing work and doesn’t happen over night. I still get them out there performing. An audience love to see children getting up there, singing with pride and really going for it. I’m less interested in vocal ‘excellence’ at this stage. It’s about building confidence and really having fun, even laughter through our songs.

Consequently, the children sing louder and perform in an unihibited way. They deliver a delightfully messy, free, thrilling, self expressed performance with a few cute bum notes! That’s the kind of excellence I’m talking about!

What people say

Everyone had a ball & it was such a buzz AND the audience reaction was great. My husband & friends thought it was terrific!!! I want to say a BIG thank you to you, how you organised it, kept your cool What an amazing experience, can’t wait to do it again.

What a great day yesterday and what an amazing woman you are Lizzy! The creation that is Natural Voices has brought so much to so many ladies.

Really enjoyed this afternoon’s concert- thanks to you and all involved!The programme was great, children adorable (and talented) and the singing was brilliant! I joined in (quietly) where I could and felt very proud of you all.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do something I would never have imagined myself being able to do in a million years (sing on stage in the West End). It was such a great day and actually I really do think we are at home in the West End!!! My family thought we were brilliant. Thanks so much for all your hard work and dedication and…

Ginny Parry

It was great ! and Lizzy, as usual you were funny and energetic and got the best out of us (me anyway !). And everyone was so caring to each other and helping each other out.

Thanks so much Lizzy for giving us this opportunity to SHINE!

It was wonderful! I had a great time and all my friends were seriously wowed by what a great show it was. One said ‘You are such an amazing and inspirational singing lot – it would be a privilege for me to join you, if I can.’

Liz RiversWalthamstow choir member

Lizzy you did an AMAZING job! And we weren’t half bad too 🙂 All my party loved it.

Clare Farrow

Thanks Lizzie for putting together a great show and working so hard and with such amazing enthusiasm to bring it all together. And the rest of you…. Well you ain’t half bad either 🙂

Me and bump had a ball and felt quite emotional at times being part of something so special and looking out and seeing the smiles on the audiences faces